A FORMER community councillor will appear in front of council watchdogs on Anglesey following a Wales ombudsman investigation.

Outspoken Benllech businessman Barrie Durkin, who runs a guest house and restaurant in the seaside resort, will go before Anglesey&#x2019;s standards committee next week.

Committee members are expected to consider a report from ombudsman Adam Peat who probed an allegation made by a county councillor against Mr Durkin eight months ago.

Benllech-Brynteg county councillor David Lewis-Roberts alleged Mr Durkin had circulated a document which contained unfounded allegations against him.

And he claimed Mr Durkin had failed to observe the code of conduct for members of Llanfair ME community council.

But last night Mr Durkin, who stood down as a councillor two months ago, insisted he would welcome a formal hearing.

&#x201c;All I know is that the standards committee will read the ombudsman&#x2019;s report when it meets next Thursday, and will decide if it needs taking to the next level, which would be a formal hearing.&#x201d;

Mr Durkin said his resignation from the community council had nothing to do with the allegation against him.

He said: &#x201c;I have been investigating a number of planning issues on Anglesey and felt those investigations would be compromised and would lead to a conflict of interest if I continued as a member of the community council.&#x201d;

In his report Mr Peat said Mr Lewis-Roberts claimed Mr Durkin had a &#x201c;history&#x201d; of making unfounded allegations against him and that he was being &#x201c;vexatious and malicious&#x201d; towards him and his family.

Responding to the allegation Mr Durkin didn&#x2019;t deny sending the leaflet but stressed he was not acting in an &#x201c;official&#x201d; capacity. He agreed the language in the leaflet &#x201c;may be colourful&#x201d;.

Mr Peat, referring his report to Anglesey council&#x2019;s monitoring officer and standards committee, said Mr Durkin had a duty as a community representative to draw to attention legitimate concerns.

He added: &#x201c;However, he should do so in a way which does not breach obligations set out in the code of conduct.

&#x201c;In my view the language he has chosen to use is more than &#x2018;colourful&#x2019;, it goes beyond what could be reasonably be regarded as the normal currency of political debate and is clearly libellous.&#x201d;